The Wisdom of Jesus

WHEN JESUS REACHED the age of thirty, he made a consecration of his life to the Heavenly Father and then symbolized this by having John the Baptist baptize him in the river Jordan. He was then begotten with the Holy Spirit of God. After this, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and was tempted by Satan. Then, he went into the region of Galilee, proclaiming “the gospel of the kingdom of God” in various cities and places.—Mark 1:9-15

Soon afterward, Jesus “came into His own country,” where he had been brought up, accompanied by his disciples. “On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue.” The Old Testament Scriptures were often read and discussed in the synagogue. It was a group study method which is found to be appropriate and beneficial even today.—Mark 6:1,2; Luke 4:16

Jesus was handed the Book of Isaiah and he read from the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor; he has sent me to announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed, to proclaim the year of acceptance with the Lord.” Jesus rolled up the book, returned it, sat down and said, “Today is this Scripture fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21, Weymouth New Testament; Isa. 61:1,2) As noted in our Key Verse, many were astonished and wondered how he had acquired such wisdom.

The wisdom and understanding which Jesus had was coming from the Holy Spirit of God, which he received without “limitations,” after having made a full consecration to God. (John 3:34, WNT) As the Prophet Isaiah had written centuries earlier, “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding.”—Isa. 11:1,2

Isaiah’s prophecy explains that the “wisdom” and “understanding” bestowed upon Jesus would “make him of quick understanding in the fear [reverence] of the Lord,” and he would not “judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.”—vss. 3,4

Throughout human history, mankind has been accustomed to misgovernment. Therefore, it was necessary that Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Messiah give assurance that his new government, which will soon rule upon the whole earth, will have both good motives, as well as superior wisdom and judgment. The poor, the helpless, and the despised during the present time will, in the future Messianic kingdom, discover that their new leader is a friend. As a result, there shall then be neither rich nor poor, but all shall be brought to one common level.—Isa. 65:21,22; Mic 4:4,5

At that time, the meek who love righteousness will no longer be oppressed, but shall be exalted and blessed. Their king, Christ Jesus, will be God’s faithful, diligent servant, and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”—Isa. 11:4,5,9